2014 Ford Focus gets mid-life facelift

It’s facelift time for Britain’s most popular family car as the Ford Focus gets a mid-term makeover.

Outside the majority of the “new” Focus is the same as before, but up front the Ford face has received a refresh.

Out goes the three piece grill seen on the old version and in comes the one-piece, Aston-style – one that is already used on the ST version and the Fiesta.

Above, the lights become longer while the fog-lights are squared and sit in their own, chrome-lined area of the bumper.

At the back it’s almost impossible to see a difference, but Ford assure us that the rear lights are now slightly thinner.

The new focus made its debut at the world mobile congress and will be seen in the flesh at Geneva next week, before it goes on sale in the second half of 2014.

Inside a similar dash to the outgoing model becomes less shiny, as matt black plastic replaces the old gloss and a high-resolution, 8-inch colour touch screen with Ford’s new SYNC-2 connectivity system and voice control to take the reigns for sat-nav, climate control and bluetooth.

Ford also say they have improved the soundproofing for the engine bay wall meaning a quieter ride.

Underneath a raft of new safety features are fitted, including brand new “hands-free” Perpendicular Parking system, which will park the car for you. Ford say the same sensors that are used to aid parking can also be used to warn of coming traffic exiting the space and Park-Out Assist, which helps drivers exit a parallel parking space

Out front Ford say that new headlights will adjust depending on the type of road the car is on, with lower beams for town driving and more power for motorway hauls.

At launch the new Focus adds four new engine choices. A 1.5litre EcoBoost petrol can be fitted with either 148 or 177bhp and the same size TDCi diesel offers 93 or 118bhp which Ford say are 17-19% more efficient than outgoing models.

These will be followed in the new year by Ford’s award winning 1.0litre EcoBoost unit.

All can be mated with either manual or automatic gearboxes and for budding GT drivers the Focus auto can be given paddle shifter attached to the wheel.

Behind the wheel Ford say they have improved the Focus’s already enjoyable handling by increasing the structural stiffness at the front, revising the suspension geometry, increasing lateral stiffness of “steering-relevant” suspension bushes, retuning the shock absorbers, incorporating a new Electronic Stability Programme and retuning the electric power steering.

As seen in the pictures Ford have also added two new colour options to the Focus specs, Deep Impact Blue and Glace Blue.

No price details have been revealed but expect to learn more next month.